Snowshoeing off the beaten track
SNOWSHOEING
BY DAVE FOLEY
For much of my winter activity, I depend on a track laid out by a groomer. My skinny cross country skis function poorly when the snow comes over my boot tops. And it’s hard to make progress riding a fat bike through a half-foot of fluffy snow. But for snowshoeing, a fresh snowfall is ideal and the aftermath of a blizzard is even better.
When the Blizzard of 1978 left us snowbound for four days, cabin fever set in. This was when I never missed a day of running, but the thigh deep snow was too daunting to even consider a run.
My wife Cyndy and I strapped on our wooden snowshoes in the back hall and then stepped out. Even though our snowshoes were large, it still was a struggle to make progress through the drifts of windblown snow. We may have only gone a half-mile, but it was exhilarating and lifted our spirits.
When winter is at its wildest, that’s the time to be out breaking trail in snowshoes. Out in the open, it can be brutal, as biting winds tear at your face and swirling snow creates a whiteout. Once in the woods, a barrier of trees blunts the storm’s fury and visitors can enjoy the serenity and beauty of falling snow. On these woodland forays, we may be following a trail, taking advantage of being able to walk on a relatively level surface. More likely, we strike off into uncharted territory clambering over deadfall and pushing through tangles of ground cover. This is tough work and may be that rare instance where a walker may be burning calories as fast as a runner (That is unless the runner is wearing snowshoes, a subject covered in last month’s Silent Sport’s feature on snowshoe racing.).
When you’re burning calories that fast, your body heats up quickly. Even though the air might be frigid, wearing that big puffy down jacket may be a mistake. As you begin to sweat, when you stop for a break, that moisture on your skin will become an unwelcome chilly surprise. It’s better to dress in layers. Take a day pack with snacks and water so you will have a place to put the clothing you strip off. When you start to warm up, remove a windbreaker or a fleece before you begin sweating. If it’s cold out, carry liquids in an insulated container or take hot liquids that won’t freeze.
If the snow is icy or the terrain is steep, I will wear metal snowshoes with crampons to get better traction. For most of my backcountry bushwhacking, I prefer to wear my larger wood snowshoes. A thirty-two-inch teardrop shape shoe provides more flotation and doesn’t sink as much as my 25-inch oval shaped metal shoes. When you’re navigating rough terrain or pushing through deep snow, a ski pole is a good accessory to help you maintain balance. And if you topple over, it makes getting upright again easier. An old ski pole with a big basket near the tip makes an ideal walking stick.
When the snow’s not around, if you go off bushwhacking to explore unfamiliar places, there’s always the chance of getting lost. In the winter that’s not an issue. The tracks you’ve made will lead you back.
Nowadays, there’s just about no place that doesn’t get visited by humans. During deer season, gun-toting or bow-carrying individuals can be found just about anywhere. That is, except for the swamplands. Not even the most intrepid hunter will venture into these wetlands. Yet during a hard winter with many sub-freezing days, even areas that are perpetually wet will ice up. It’s not easy walking. Drifting snow covers bushes and bent over cattails, creating air pockets. When a snowshoe hits these, the walker may suddenly find themselves plunging waist-deep snow. One winter in the middle of the swamp, we came across a small, high-ground island. Way up in a giant white pine we saw an eagle’s nest. Standing there looking up at the huge mass of sticks cradled among the branches, we figured we might have been the first to ever see this eagle’s lair.
I am always amazed at how often I will see snowshoers following a beaten down trail when there are possibilities of walking through untrampled powdery snow just a few feet off the side of the packed track. If you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend you head off in a different direction and explore terrain that is overlooked by most outdoor enthusiasts.